Footwear



N. WILLIAMS Feb. 4, 1930. I

FOOTWEAR Feb. 4, 1930. N. WILLIAMS 1,745,654

FOOTWEAR Filed llarch 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 4, 1930.

N. WILLIAMS FOOTWEAR Filed March 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 4, 1930.

N. WILLIAMS 1,745,654

FOOTWEAR Filed March 28. 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i sig'htly appearance. Furthermore, inthis l atented .4, 1930 NEALY WILLIAMS, or

PATENT OFFICE COLUMBUS, GEORGIA FOOTWEAR A plication" filed' march 28,

This inventionrelates to improvementsin articles of footwear and'more particularly to improvements in shoes and boots of dif ferent'stylesi' a s 5 One-ofthe objects off-thepresent invention is} to provide article of footwear 'so con structed that the same will be much more'attractivein appea'ra'nce 1 than articles of foot-' wear of the'sa-me kindand'particularlyas 10' regards the appearance of the front of the upper 'oftheshoe or the'like. Shoes or boots V of'the ordinary'types employing laces or but- 1 tons asthe closingor fasteningmeans'for the] open front ofthe'upperare ordinarily unattractive due to the fact thatthe fastening or closing means is visible 'and detracts from the artistic appearance of the article of foot wear; as'a whole; Therefore the present in vention hasas 'one of its important objects to provide a closure for the'open front of the upper of an article of footwear,-which closure'may be fashioned to present a highly attractive and ornamental appearance and in which" the" mechanical fastening means for adapting the closure to 'span and close the openfi-front of the upper will be concealed entirely 'from view'thus rendering the; shoe embodying the'invention far more attractive than'similar shoes' provided with theusual closing means for the open front ofthe upper;

7 Another disadvantage presented by articles of footwear'in'which the'open front of the upper is closed by shoe laces' or buttons, is that, in'the former type of article'of footwear the upper inu'stbe provided W1th'an 1I1-- terior tongue to span the opening in the front of the upper, and5in thewear of the art cle of footwear, the tongue soon' becomes wrinkled or creased "and' soon gains an'untype 'ofshoe,=as "also 'in the buttoned type, there is extreme likelihood ofthe entry of rain or snow'into theshoe inasmuch as the sides "oftlie upperat the open front thereof overlap the-tongue whichtongue is located inwardly with respect to the said sides and 7 rain or snow lodgin against the uppe'r'between the'margins o its'open side will tend to-enter the shoe'or other article of footwear 50 *ratherthan draining I off from i the same; 7

1928. Serial No. 265,501.

Therefore the present invention has as a further important object to provide an article of footwear of the type including an upper open at its front, in combination with a novel form of spanning and closing flap for the said open front of the upper, together with novel means whereby the-marginal portions of the'flap may be anchored to the upper at the opposite sides of its open front, the means employed for this purpose being such as to be completely concealed from view by the flap and therefore, in no way detracting from the artistic appearance of the closure.

Another object of the invention isto 'provide, in anarticle of footwear embodying an upper open at itsfront, and a spanning and closing flap positioned to exteriorly overlie and span and close the open front of the upper, an extremely simple and inexpensive means whereby the two marginal portions of the flap may be securely anchoredin position closing the open front of the upper, the means being of such character that the coacting parts thereof may be conveniently and quickly mutually engaged and disengaged and one of said elements being adjustable so that the said fl'ap'inaybe suitably tensioned' wh positionl v r v Another object of the, invention is to pro vide an article of footwear having an upper open at its front. and a means for spanning and closing said front which means will be of such a character and so arranged as to positively precludethe entrance of rain or snowinto the article of footwear about the margins of the said closing means.

Another object of the invention is to proen it is secured in closing vide an article of footwear embodying an eX- terior closure flap for the open front of its upper, and drawstrings associated with the upper of the article of footwear and with said flap for tensioning the flap in closed position spanning and coveringthe open front of the upper, the'invention contemplating suc'h'an arrangement of the drawstrings that the same will be completely concealed by the flap with the possible exception of the bowknot which may be tied in the ends of the strings to maintain the strings suitably tensioned to hold the flap in place. I

Another object of the invention is to pro:

vide novel means for anchoring the ends of the draw strings so that, in the event of break-' age of any one of the strings, it may be read- 1ly removed and a new string. substituted therefor and conveniently anchored in place.

Figure 2 is a sideelevation of the shoe with one side of the flap partly open;

F igure3is'aperspective view illustratin bojthsides of the flap in the positionswhich they Will assume, as contemplated by the in- "vention, when the fastening elements for the flap are mutually separated;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in section, illustrating the fiapof the shoepartly open and illustrating the manner in which the tying cord is arranged upon the.

fiap and engaged'with the anchoring elements upon the upper, the view likewise illustratingthe means provided for anchoring the lower ends of the sa1d cords or drawstrings; F lgure 5 1s a perspectwe view of a low shoe embodying the invention, the flap being shown in closed position;- I v I p Figure .6 is a similar view illustrating one side of-the flap swung to open position;

Figure 7 is a similar View illustrating. the flap swung forwardly to full open position;

Figure 8 isa view similar to Figure? illustrating a low shoe and a slightly modified form of flap;

.Figure 9 is a similar view illustrating a further modification of the invention;

F igure'lO is a perspective view of a babys shoe equipped with the flap of the present invention, the flap being partly open; 7

Figure 11 is a similar view but. illustrating a modified form of the means for maintaining the flap closed; a V

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a boot embodying the invention, the flap being partl p Figure 13'isa side elevation of a modified form of boot, the adjacent side of the flap being in partly open position;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary perspective View illustratingthe upper portion of the boot shown in Figure 13 Figure 15 is a detail horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 1515 of Figure 13 looking in the direction indi cated by the arrows.

In that embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, in which the invention is embodied in a ladys high shoe, the

the shoe as most clearly shown in F igure 3.

The open front of the upper 1 is preferably spanned, from its lower end, to a point below its'upper end, by a gusset 4 which may be of soft leather, cloth, or any other soft and flexible material found suitable for the purpose. 5 i i In this embodiment, of the invention the closure flap for closing the open front of the upper, is indicated in general by the numeral, 7 5 and the same comprlsesa lower portlon 6 of such form as to extend overthe vampof the shoe upper, being united thereto, for the lower portion of its length, by lines of stitching 7, the forward end edge of the flap 5 being unitedtothe rear side of the toe-cap 3 by the usual cross line of stitching. As illus-- trated clearly in the saidFigures 1' to finclusive, the flap 5 is of a width amply sufii cient to spanthe open front 2 ofthe upper 1 and, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, it is designed, when in closed posi- 1 tion, ,to conform more or less closely to'the contour ofthe upper at the front thereof,

being understood that this flap may be given any desired ornamental marginal con-V tourand may otherwise be ornamented; It will also be evident by reference to F igure 1 that the flap isto be marginally held in place against the shoe upper at opposite sides of the open front thereof so as tospan and close the saidopen front, and the means which is employed, in this embodiment of the invention, for holding the flap in this position, willnow be described. I

The means referred to above. comprises a,

pair of drawstrings which are indicatedby the numeral 8 and each ofthese strings is anchored atone end as at 9 to a hook or other similar fastening element 10 .uponthe inner at the lower end of the flap, the connection of I this end of each drawstring with the respec-' tive fastening element 10 being a-separable one so that the drawstring maybe disengaged from the fastening element when replacement of the string'is required. From the fasteningelementlO thedrawstring 9is led through a hem 11 which is formed atthe corresponding side of the flap 5 by overturning. and stitching the marginal portion ,of the flap, and the inner-wall of this hem is formed at intervals with short slots or openings 12 through which; portions of the drawstring 7 greatly enhances the-attractiveappearance of the shoeas a whole. It will also be evident meaope i may be. l pe as nd c ed by th h in r l 13 and inserted in the mannershownin Figs ures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. A series of hook members 14 is'secured to the upper .1 of the shoe at each side of the. open front 2 and thesehook members are preferably horizontally disposed and are located adjacent the i margins of the sides of the upper in the man 'ner illustratedin Figuresi2,-3 and 4. It will be evident'by reference to these figures that the looped portions-13 of the drawstrings' are engaged with the hooks 14' and that the upper'end portions of thedrawstrings are led through the uppermost one ofthe slots 12 of the respectiveiseries and engaged with the uppermost one of the respective series of hooks 14: Therefore by forming the loops 13 and engaging theloopswith'the hooks Hand then pulling-upon the ends of the drawstrings in'substantially the-manner in which the ends of a shoe lace are'pulled in tightening the same, the flap 5 iscalused to assumetheclosed,

position illustrated'in F-igure 1 of the draw-v a ings restingsnugly against the front of the :25

- frontportion'2 thereof.' The prO ecting ends upper and spanning and closing the open of the drawstrings may then be tied together a fbowknot orotherwise, as will be. readily understood, andin thismanner the shoe upper .30

isneatly adjusted about the foot of the wearer; It will "also be evident by reference to Figure 1 of the drawings that the flap, when closed, occupies such a position that it con;

stitutes an exceptionally attractive closure for theopen front of theupper of the shoe and by, reference to the said Figures 1 to 1111:

elusive that the drawstrings may be readily loosened,when their upper ends are united,

and theloops'13-may be disengaged from it the hooks 14 thus permitting the flap 5 to be swung downwardly to the full open position shown in Figure 3; whereupon the shoe maybe readily-removed from the foot orapplied'thereto. [It will further be evident that in the eventof breakage or wearing of either of the drawstrings, the same'may be readily p a ed y di engag g t s t r of from the securing hook l0 and withdrawing the broken or worn string through the hem" 11 After which a new str ng may be readily inserted throughthe hem and anchored at its lower end tothe hook'lO and successive portions thereof drawn through the slots 12' to provide the loops 13,

i From the foregoing: description of this embodiment of the invention and from an inspection' of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, it will be evident that the invention contemplates an extremely neat, artistic, and dressy elosure for y the front of the {upper of high shoe and that th an Pro id d for old ng h c ur 1 'position"is invisible. It will alsoibe under st od a that i sn u as th flap 5 e t-e s enti ely ;a i-os ..=the open from o "111 1 9.? and a considerable distance toleaeh thereof and is ooote y h lly exteriors oi the upp of tho hoo, there is li tle like ihood t lI Qi o ente ng th sh e by way of the open f on f the ppe Figu es 5, 6 an 7 ofthedra y a s illustrate t e m odim nt of the inve ti n n a low erandp n t e e figu e he pp of he oe is in cat d y he num ra 1a and th flapvw i h oo r sp hd t he flap ,5, is dioated y he num r l 16 andi u ited i -its m g nond atits lo r' porti y a line o h g 17 t he upp from he lower Side of. the op n ront: f the upper Preferbly t0 he. tip =01? the, toezportion of the ups pi r- H oks l oorrosp hdihgto he hooks 14 of t Pr vi usly described emb dim nt so: cured by t ingor-otho wiso to he opposite s d s of t e oponxfront of the error 1. d t por ion-bf he ap 16 a ove the st c e ma g alp rt l' p o ed t its pp site sides w t ho ns l in wh ch ar ra ged iiaws r ngs 20 orre p di g to the Strings f ih Pre iou ly d soribede eb d hi t, thosed aw rihg being an hored each t itslowe en to a bo k '2 cor espondi to the hook 10 .ofthe previously described bo ime t an hro dedth ough he peciveh m 19 and f med w l op :22 retr n g to the ops 3 'w ioharo dr wn 1 t ure the in ent on i illus rated as-e n- 1: 1.1

b e in a o s oe the upp wh ch i nd c d by t e :IIIIIQQITQLZL and-isopohetits r nt as ndi ated by the-h m al 2. .,tho flap 'WhiQh'C I 'QSPO Ld O the flap 5 andlb'of the P ov o slyde oribodem o ent ,.b ne

n c ted y tho-num ra 126- "I th s embo m nt, t efl p 26" s p eferab y uni-te to th upp r 2 a on its lower edge, by th s am 2 wh h. un t he ramp el ei s rapp r .an

rear edges, and the said flap is :proyided in 3;,

e h pp rn w t an pen ng i dioa od by the numeral 28, and the drawstrings,

Whioh n ed by the n m ral :29, ar secured each at oneendas atfit) to the-upper 2& ate r p v de th ope vfro t,'25 t e o h Po t f fi aohmoe o th mi s ngs 2 t th pper b g relat ve y c e t the uppe edg o sa d impor- Tho ew:

st in a e h u h h op nings 2 and y be tied in a hoot i soe i i g the her 2 6" in place 'a'gain'st'thefront ofthe upper and closing thesamef I 1n the embodiment shown in FigureQ the inventionjs disclosed in connection with a low'shoe the upper of which is indicated by 'thenumeral 31 and is provided with an open front '32, the flap, which in this embodiment is' ind'icated-by the numeral 33, being secured at itslower end by the line ofstitching- 3 4 which unites the upper and rear portion of the vamp to'the rearpo'rt'ion of the upper.

This flap is provided alongits side edges with hems 36 which correspond to the hems l'l-and 19 of the previously described embodiments and hook me1nbersq37 corresponding to the hook members '14 and 18 ofthe "pr 7 v-iously described embodimentsare secured to the'npper'3l'at opposite sides of the open front 32' thereof, drawstri'ngs; 38 being anchoied' each at one "end to theupper 31 at a respective side of." the ,open 1 front 32 thereof and adjacent. the lower end of the flap 33 bodying'; the invention, by 'the numeral 42, the

fia-p'be'ing united at; its lower portion bythe line--01? stitching 43 which serves to secure the upper edges of the toe and vamp portions of thefarticlej -5In thisembodiment of the ini ention the flap 42 i's provided with hems "44 corres'p'onding to thosepr'eviousl'y descr'ibed andprovided with the openings 45 through which' the drawstrings146 are looped v as at 47 the looped portions of the strings ferfiiomthat illustrated in; Figures 1 to 4 in-. clus ivei'and Figure 9 except that the article being engageable with" hook" members 48 secured to the upper 41 at opposite sides of the open front-49' thereof. It will be evident that thifs embodiment ofthe invention does not difof footwear is intendedfor babies wear;

Figure '11 of the drawings illustrates an embodiment alsodesigned for use in infants shoes or boots and this embodiment *is some- 'what different from, the embodiment shown in Figure 10. InFigurell the upper'is indicated by the numeral 50 andis provided with' an open front 51, and the flap of the in- "vention is indicated by the numeral '52 and, as-shown in the "said figure, preferably constitutes an integral extension of the toe-cap 53 end'isprovided adjacent its side edges with a series ofrl'iuttonholes 54 whereby its marginal portions may be separably connected with buttons 55 attached tothe upper. 50 at the opposite sides, of the'open front 51.

Figure 12 of the drawingsillustratesthe-f embodimentof theinvention in a boot and in this figure the upper is indicated. by the numeral 56and is provided with an'open front 57 as in the previously described embodimentsof the invention. The fiapof the invention is indicated by the numeral 58, in thisfigureyand is united at its lower end by the'line of stitching 59- Which secures the upper edge of the vamp ofthe boot. The said flap 58 isprovided at its opposite longitudinal margins with hems 60 corresponding to the hems ofthe previously describedembodiments, and a series of'hooks 61'is secured; to the upper 56atea'chsi'deof the open front 57 thereof, the inner wall of each hem being provided with openings 52, and drawstrings 63 being anchored at their'lower ends,

in any suitable manner, such"forexample as that illustrated and described in'the em bodimentshown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive,

these drawstrings being threaded through; '7

the hems 60 and loopedthroughthe openings 62 to. provide loops .64 which are engaged with the hooks61 7 ,Figures 13, l l and 15 of the drawings illustrate; the embodiment ofthe invention in a boot and in these figures the upper ofthe boot is indicated bythenumeral 65 and the flap, embodying the invention, fis indicated by the numeral 66, the flap being stitched alongone lateral edge as at 67 to theupper .65 ofthe bootat one side ofthe open front 68thereof and extending across the said open front. At this point it will be evident that the boot at one side of theopen front thereof, but the opposite side of the flap is provided withia hem 69 corresponding to the hems. of a the previously described embodiments and.

formed in its inner/wall with a series of openthe flap s this embodiment, is perm. l t d ng-one side to the upper of.

ings- 70 through which are'looped, as indi cated by the numeral'l'l, successive portions of a drawstring 72, the looped. portions being engageable with hooks 7 3 secured to the upper at that side thereof which is overlapped by the free side of the flap 66, the lower end "of vthe said drawstring 7 2 being secured in any suitable manner as that previously described,

' between the upper and thelower portion of the flap 66. The upper portion of thedrawstring72. is led through aneyer74 -seoured upon theinner side of thefiap 66 atthe upper free corner thereof, and this ,portio'nof the said drawstring 72 is adapted tofbetied in a bow knot or otherwise tied with a short string 75fwhichis anchored at, one end as at 76 between'the upper attached corner of the flap 66 andtheportion of the upper to which 7 it is attached. v From the foregoing descriptionbf the various embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, it; will be evident that, in' each instance, the invention eontent plates the prov sion of a flap located exterior ly of a shoe or other article of footwear and designed to be extended over the open front oflth'e upper and connected thereto in position to span and close said front.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is: a An article of footwear including an upper, open at its front, a flap arranged exteriorly of the upper and attached at its lower por tion thereto, the flap being provided at its lateral, marginal portions with hems having each a series of openings in its inner side, drawstrings anchored at their lower ends'with respect to the upper and threaded through said hems and having spaced por- 'tions of the lengths looped'to extend through the said openings, and hook elements upon the upper atthe opposite sides of the open front thereof and constituting means for holding the flap in position extending across the open front of the upper and closing the same. I

' In testimony whereof. I aifix my signature. NEALY WILLIAMS. 

